ARSON

WHAT IS ARSON

Arson is purposely setting fire to property, either personal or belonging to someone else. Arson accounts for billions of dollars in lost or damaged property annually, but only about 17% of arson-related blazes result in arrest.

A fire is only considered arson after all accidental causes have been ruled out, which means investigators have to prove an individual caused a fire deliberately and with harmful intent. This is why arson is both difficult to prove and prosecute in court.

What is an arson investigation? Arson investigations are conducted to determine the cause of a fire and ensure the responsible party is held accountable. Arson investigators are usually retired fire fighters or trained professionals with in-depth knowledge about types of fuel, how each fuel ignites and accelerates, and the impact each fuel has on the development of a fire.

How does a fire investigation work? Evidence of arson is nearly impossible to preserve. Not only will the fire likely destroy physical proof but the water and chemical foam used to put out the blaze can also destroy potential evidence. Because of this, an arson investigator’s most important witnesses are the firefighters that first arrive on the scene.

The investigator will ask firefighters for details such as the color of the smoke, damaged sprinkler systems, condition of doors and windows, and general strange behavior of the flames. After establishing the behavior of the fire, investigators will look for point of origin and any other physical evidence that can be documented. This allows them to reconstruct the event and use the scientific method to prove or disprove arson. Why do people commit arson? When examining arson, one of the biggest factors is motive. An investigator will look for one of these factors when considering whether someone committed arson: